1875: Austro-Hungarian Empire was the second biggest Nation in an ancient Europe splitted into a few unstable republics and solid old kingdom. Into Northern Bohemia, a hopeful young boy started to explore the world. The Empire was a melting-pot of far but geographically next cultures and traditions: from Trento to Leopoli, from Sarajevo to Prague. This multicultural aspect became both a massive opportunity to learn – with Vienna and the “belle epoque” – both in a powder keg ready to blow up – Franz Ferdinand ‘s murder the 28 June 1914. Ferdinand Porsche was still studying and his surname sounded anonymous.

The young Ferdinand was growth up and he was ready to approach new challenges. It was the 1900 when at the age of 24 years old he projected the Semper vivus Lohner-Porsche, four wheel drive and hybrid engines: four electrical engines on the wheels coupled to combustion engine.

A compact four cylinders of 1.1 Liter with fifty horsepowers were sufficient to the Austro Daimler Sascha to race and convince at the 13° Targa Florio of 1922. Won the Tourism category until 1100cc with Gregor Kuhum and Lambert Pocher, the two Sascha arrived in the absolute ranking at 22° and 24° place. Ferdinand Porsche has continued to work on flagship, sports, racing and popular models while his son Ferry started to draw his first cars.

After the experiences of Austro-Daimler and Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft (now Mercedes) in 1931 founded in Stuttgart the Dr. Ing. h.cF. Porsche Gmbh. The archetype of the modern and renowned sports car of Stoccarda was easily traced in the Typ 64, built in onlt three pieces: one destroyed in the second WW, one converted in hot-rod by american soldier for a joy riding and the last, loyally preserved.

In 1946 Piero Dusio and Piero Taruffi has founded the Cisitalia and after a few months they were able to reunite a fantastic team work: Rudolf Hruska, Giovanni Savonuzzi, Karl Abarth and Ferdinand Porsche. The result was an open wheel single seater wiht a twelve cylinder 1,5 Liter boxer turbocharged with two compressors, scomponibles crankshafts, and five sequential gearshift. The power of the engine was of quite 400 hp at more than ten thousands rpm: the engine was collocated in a central position well matched to the tube-shaped frame. The high development costs caused the failure of the 360 project: the unique sample, even if unserviceable, is now at Porsche Museum.

Back to the 60s the lines of the Typ64 were so innovative that they drawn the history of Porsche: from this prototype has derived the 356: circle lights, pastel colours and sinuosity everywhere. A 40hp boxer four cylinder of 1.1L was installed in the first series in the rear of the frame. The 356s were available in more than one version: coupè, cabriolet, speedster, hardtop and roadster and in the years the engine has arrived to 2L and 110 horse power.

The 60s were ready to be closed while a changement in the orders of world championship has modified the scenario: Sport and Prototypes challenges became the Sport-Prototype with the reduction of the engine size to three litres. Porsche was ready to fight with its 908: three litres, eight cylinder and a ultralight fiberglass body kit to built one of the few cars able to beat the Ford GT40.

But It’s the 917 to be the most famous, glorious and awesome Porsche prototype challenging the Mulsanne straight. At the Porsche Museum it’s possibile see the 1970 #23 kurzheck of Hermann-Attwood, 1971 langheck #21 of Elford-Larrousse and the aerodynamic experiment “Pink Pig” #23 of Jost and Kauhsen, half KH, half LH. #22 Markko-Van Lennep of Martini Internation Racing Team is the protagonist of another Spaghetti Garage history: http://www.spaghettigarage.com/a-true-italian-legend-martini-international-racing-temporary-exhibition

Born like a halfblood the 914 Porsche has not reached the same success of Harry Potter: with four and six engine the 914 was too slow for Porsche owners and too expensive for VW ones. That’s the main reason of its commercial failure. On this 914 however, someone has decided to put in a three hundred horse power eight cylinder boxer engine and to donate to Ferry for his 60th birthday.

1973 was the real turning point for Ferry and Co.: after the achievements of LeMans 24h with its prototypes the Porsche had the purpose to dominate with a real GT car. Dedicated frame, boxer six cylinder engine for 1973. It was a beast. But someone in Stuttgart was not satisfied. So in the 1974 the news were these: new three liter engine, broadened gauge, new aerodynamic kit and centerlock wheels. This was the first Porsche GT car able to win in all of the continents, the 911 Carrera RSR: #74 has challenged in IMSA GT.

The genesis of a nickname was usually weird. 1978, Porsche has just shown its new prototype, the 935. It was a special version of 911 but the aspect was so different: it got fat. White livery, extremely lowered compared with 76 and 77 cars, new aerodynamic bodykit specifically designed to the highest speed, wide frontal section and long rear part. So, it’s natural that someone has started to think: wow, this is a whale. So this 1798 935 became for all the world the Moby Dick: 750 horse power, 3,2 liter and 365 km/h.

This 924 GTP is not so famous but it’s one of the beautiful built. Born in 1980 to challenge the 2 liter championship this GT has a turbocharged engine well combined to a light weight frame: 320 horsepower and less the 2000 lb.

The 917 was one of the most awesome cars in Porsche history but it’s the chronometer the real judge: in 1976 at the 300km of Nürburgring the Porsche has launched the 936. It was a mix of all the past racing cars: frame from 908, suspensions from 917 and 2,1 turbocharged engine from the 911 Carrera GTR. It was the winner of 1976-1977 and 1981 24h of Le Mans.

In the eighties the Porsche wanted to demonstrate that it was able to built a total car: the 959 had four wheel drive and it won the 1986 Parigi Dakar. It’s still one of the most impressive cars ever built in the world. So Porsche decided to join the IMSA GTX but the dream bumped to hard cliffs: high costs of development and extreme tyre usage. So the track career of the 959 ended up in 1987.

So we have arrived to the 90s: Porsche had an obsession. Win the 24h of LeMans. It was the 1996 when the 911 GT1 were created. The frame is strictly connected to 993 one but the mechanical were completely revolutionized. Central engine, turbocharged and watercooled. By the use of kevlar the complete structure was too light: less the 2000 lb for quite 600 horse power. However, the British builder TWR with the Joest Racing Team and Porsche engine, has just build a phenomenal racing car beating the 911GT1: the Joest Racing TWR-Porsche WSC-95

In 1996 (and also in 1997) the winner of the 64th edition of 24H of LeMans was the Joest Racing TWR-Porsche WSC-95, built by the famous Tom Walkinshaw Racing – winner of 1987 and 1991 with the Jagyar XJR-9 and father of Nissan R390GT1. This racing car was a mix: old, lighter and cheaper 956 Porsche engine on a Jaguar frame. The result was a ultra light car with a restricted usage of fuel and tyre. After two defeats Porsche decided to centralize the project building in 1998 the #8 LMP1.

With our first article we wanted to celebrate one of the most successful motorsport brand in the world and show you, walking through the history of its production, how Ferdinand and Ferry were able to built it. This is a true European history with the strong will to dominate all the rivals and to feed themselves only by the victories and the glories made by a constant fight with the most powerful, unforgettable european racing cars of the last century. All against the Porsche.